By
Bernard E. Richardson
Master Teacher & Art Educator
© Bernard E. Richardson | 2023

Rendering
What is Rendering in Art?
Rendering is the drawing process of making marks to create tone
and texture.
It is used
• To achieve contrast in drawings (the effects of light
and dark).
• to make objects appear three dimensional (3D) and
• to show the surface quality of an object.

Rendering Techniques
The basic rendering techniques are:
• Hatching
• Cross-hatching
• Stippling
• Scumbling
• Scribbling

HATCHING
Hatching is a rendering technique using a
series of closely spaced parallel lines or linear
strokes to create value and texture
throughout an image.
• The lines could go diagonal, vertical, horizontal but
can also be curved.
• Tonal value (light and dark) is created by the
amount, thickness and spacing of the lines used in
creating the form.
• The closer the lines are the darker the area and to
show light areas the lines are drawn farther apart.
• Hatching works well when created using pen and
pencil but could also be done using fine point felt
tip pens and markers as well as coloured pencils.

HATCHING examples…

CROSS HATCHING
Cross hatching is hatching, but with lines
going in two directions (lines criss-
crossing each other).
• The lines may be drawn diagonally at an angle or
vertically and horizontally.
• Like hatching, tonal value is created by the
amount, thickness and spacing of the lines used to
create light and dark areas
• The closer the lines are the darker the area and to
show light areas the lines are drawn farther apart.
• Like hatching, cross-hatching works well when
done using pen and pencil but can be done using
fine point felt tip pens and markers and coloured
pencils.

CROSS HATCHING examples…

STIPPLING
Stippling is a rendering technique which
uses dots to shade an area when creating
an image.
• The closer the dots are, the darker will be its value
(it looks darker) and to make an area appear
lighter the dots are less and further apart from
each other.
• This technique is time consuming but creates a
neat and clean effect and when done well it looks
better from far away.
• Stippling is best suited to be done with pen and
ink. It could also be done using fine tip markers.

STIPPLING examples…

SCUMBLING
Scumbling is a rendering technique which
uses small squiggly circular lines or circular
scribble lines done in a controlled way.
• The lines are separate scribble marks drawn as
squiggles and figure-eight like shapes.
• The marks are drawn tighter and on top of each
other to create darker areas and looser, less
overlapping marks are used to create lighter
areas.
• Scumbling is best done with pen-and-ink or
pencil but can be done using fine point felt tip
markers.
Scumbling is NOT the same as Scribbling even though they look similar. Scumbling is
separate scribble marks while Scribbling is made with one continuous line instead of several
lines.

SCUMBLING examples

SCRIBBLING
Scribbling is a rendering technique which uses
one continuous line or mark which is made in
a random, spontaneous controlled manner.
These lines are used to create value, patterns
and textures.
• The marks are drawn loosely, randomly and
spontaneously to create patterns.
• Use a graphite pencil, pen-and-ink, dark
coloured colour pencils and fine point markers
can be used to draw freely when using the
scribbling technique.
Scribbling is NOT the same as Scumbling even though they look similar. Scribbling is made
using one continuous line while Scumbling is separate several separate marks.

SCRIBBLING example…

IMAGE COURTESIES
• https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d3/19/a7/d319a7f78cb3ed7fd0354de3ebb1
5cae.jpg
• https://myartmagazine.com/file/images/12-2015/24-eagle-scribbles-by-
nathan-shegrud.preview.jpg
• https://myartmagazine.com/file/images/12-2015/22-scribbles-by-
sergeivyacheslavsavelyv.preview.jpg
• https://myartmagazine.com/file/images/1-2015/goat-scribbles-vince-
low.jpg
• https://i.pinimg.com/originals/66/6c/42/666c42776a8f2e978e4424d4a9a2
2deb.jpg
• https://d2culxnxbccemt.cloudfront.net/craft/content/uploads/articles/upl
oads/2013/07/Screen-Shot-2013-07-09-at-4.09.49-PM.png

REFERENCES
• Calle, Paul. (1974). The pencil. Ohio: North Light Publishers
• Guptill, Arthur L. (1997). Rendering in pen and ink. New York: Watson-Guptill
Publications
• Wayne Arthur Gallery, (2023). What is scribble drawing technique?
https://www.waynearthurgallery.com/scribble-drawing/
• Cowling & Wilcox Ltd. (2023). 7 easy pencil sketching techniques.
https://www.cowlingandwilcox.com/blog/post/48-a-guide-to-pencil-sketching-
techniques#:~:text=Rendering%20is%20essentially%20an%20approach,very%20s
oft%2C%20almost%20blurred%20effect.

THE END